Examines reasons that adolescents use alcohol and drugs, including role confusion, developmental factors, parental influence, and peer pressure. Reports that adolescents also abuse substances to feel excitement, cope with personality conflicts, and express their individuality through rebellion. (ABB)

Argues that the design of current alcohol and drug education programs precludes their having a substantial impact on adolescent alcohol or drug use. Suggests that evaluators consider only limited aspects of these programs which leads to narrow definition of success and restricts input into program development and modification. (LLL)

Analyzes various issues about youth and alcohol. Explores some realities related to adolescent drinking including that youth drink, some drink heavily, and some will become alcoholics. Argues that services for youth that drink may actually increase drinking behavior and offers a perspective for professionals working with adolescents. (RC)

Defines problem drinking and alcoholism, and differentiates normal drinking escapes from alcohol abuse by teenagers and other youths. Suggests teenagers consume alcohol for a myriad of reasons and this behavior often leads to alcohol dependence which can cause interference in normal relationships with others. (Author)

Examined evidence for the alleged failure of alcohol education to prevent alcohol problems among children and adolescents. Concluded that there is need for investigations of the effectiveness of alcohol education. Recommendations regarding methodological characteristics of an adequate test of effectiveness of alcohol education were presented and…

Summarizes major, recent research findings concerning illegal alcohol use and intoxicated driving among American youth. Examines what research revealed about the nature of underage drinking and driving; what health, social, and legal ramifications are associated with drinking and driving; and what characteristics and behavioral patterns are found…

Study provides a descriptive profile of alcohol consumption patterns of adolescents in a southern state from four time periods over the past decade. Also examines the relationship between alcohol initiation and binge drinking behaviors and sexual initiation, pregnancy, multiple sex partners, and violence. Regression analyses showed very modest…

Study uses longitudinal growth curve modeling to examine the dynamic relations between refusal skills and alcohol use. The estimated means for alcohol use indicated that on average these adolescents increased their alcohol use by a factor of 140% over a four-year period. Refusal skill efficacy declined by a factor of 13% over the same time frame.…

Study identifies and examines prevention resources developed to address the problem of adolescent solvent abuse. Prevention materials were coded according to targeted age group, ethnicity, and media format. Results suggest that specific prevention messages are often used with specific age groups, cultural content, and media formats. (Contains 32…

Study examines the effects of adolescents' vocational and relationship experiences, adherence to non-traditional values, and parental divorce and involvement on adolescent soft drug use. Results reveal that vocational and relationship experiences in adolescence correlate with the use of soft drugs and adherence to non-conventional norms and values…

Examines the relationship between gender, athletic participation, alcohol expectancies, and alcohol use in a sample of adolescents. No significant difference was found between negative consequences reported by athletes and non-athletes, or males and females. A significant difference was found between levels of negative consequence drinking and…

Examines the effects of linguistic acculturation (language spoken with friends and parents) and gender on alcohol use among Hispanic adolescents. Results reveal that a greater proportion of bilingual adolescents engaged in drinking than more acculturated adolescents. Within gender, these relationships were found only for boys. Suggests that…